Perennial vegetables belong to different botanical families, their edible parts and cultivation methods also differ. Their common feature is the durability of underground organs, which do not die after the end of vegetation, but from which new shoots above the ground will grow in the following year, flourishing and fruiting. Some species, like horseradish and sorrel, can be grown as annual plants. The group of perennial vegetables does not include all species, which are perennial in nature. Some of them are also grown as perennials, already discussed, bulb plants, how: chives, seven-year-old, pearl onion and multi-story onion.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a perennial, can grow in partial shade, but earlier it yields in sunny places. Ogonki liściowe, which are its edible part, contain vitamin C., sugars, acids (apple, lemon and sorrel) and minerals, such as: calcium, iron.
Rhubarb is mainly used to make compotes in the spring, when there is no fruit yet. It is grown for spring harvest and forcing in winter. Because it is a permanent vegetable, one should choose such a place for him, in which it will not disturb other plants. Planted in the shade, it has more intensely colored petioles.
Rhubarb works best in fertile soils, water-rich and permeable, however, it grows poorly in acidic soils. The place for the rhubarb should be prepared in the second half of summer, so that it can be dropped off in late August or early September. On 1 m2 gives 6 kg and more of well-decomposed manure and mineral fertilizers in the amount: 80 g of ammonium nitrate, 70 g superfos-fatu i 100 g of potassium salt, and not only at the beginning, before establishing a plantation, but every year. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers are used in the fall, nitrogen and top dressing, half the dose in spring, half after the petiole harvest.
Rhubarb is grown from cuttings from the carp-underground division, thick rhizomes. Good cuttings are obtained from four to five year old carp. They are divided into parts with a sharp knife, that each seedling has at least one bud and part of the root and weighs not less than 0,25 kg. The wound should be the smallest, and it must dry before planting. Rhubarb is planted 100-150X100-120 cm apart. The bud should be just below the ground, no deeper than 2 cm; each seedling should be firmly, compress the soil thoroughly and water.
Harvesting begins in the second year after planting; at the end of April, when the petioles reach 25 cm in length. The tails should not be broken in the first year, so as not to weaken the plants. They are collected at intervals 7-, 10-daytime. An earlier harvest of rhubarb can be successfully obtained by application in early spring (March) low foil tunnels or other covers for rows with plant stumps.
The earliest variety of rhubarb is Przodownik Europa, It is fertile, it grows fast, the color of the petiole is light green with a pink tinge in the lower part, the flesh – green.
A later variety is Karpow Lipski, moderately fertile, petiole to 1/3 length red, flesh to 1/3 tall pink-green, further greenish.
A bit later than Karpow Lipski is the Early Hosera. It is moderately fertile, has thick petioles, young – all red, older – with an admixture of green. Green or light pink flesh, delicate.
The latest variety is Wiśniowy. It is an moderately fertile variety, it has petioles shorter than other varieties, intense red. Red flesh. Perfect for compotes.